Refrigerator latch



ugl2 l941- L. L. ANDERSON 2,252,591

REFRIGERATOR LATCH Filed June l5, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1 ug. 12, 1941. yl... n.. ANDERSON 2,252,591

REFRIGERATOR LATCH Filed June 15, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 llg. 12, 1941. L ANDERSQN 2,252,591

REFRIGERATOR LATCH Filed June 15, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheekl 3 45 5 34 la n/ @3 4 53 4o 83 5,8

lo f- 50 Patented Aug. 12, 1941 BEFBIGERATOB LATCH Lloyd L. Anderson, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor to Winters Crampton Corporation, Grandville, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application June l5, 1938, Serial No. 213,811

i (ci. zas-ss) Claims.

This invention relates to latches which, in the embodiments disclosed, are particularly adapted for use on refrigerators. The latches of this invention are not limited necessarily to refrigerator use but are available in many places where a door is to be releasably latched in closed position. l

It is an object and purpose of the present 1nvention to provide a very useful, practical and serviceable latch which is very simply constructed and has few parts and is, therefore, economical to produce. At the same time the latch is sure and positive in its action, holding the door securely in closed position and being very quickly and easily released, with a minimum of movement of the manually operable releasing means used for such purpOse.

An understanding of the invention may be had from the following description, taken ln connection with the accompanying drawings,- Ain which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary section of a refrigerator door and adjacent portion of the refrigerator casing, the latch being shown in elevation and engaged with a keeper on the casing.

Fig. 2 is a section through the refrigerator immediate latch structure and between the op- 3 posite sides thereof, showing the position of the latch bolt when it is in operative closed position; also when the door is fully open.

Fig. 4 is a section showing the latch bolt and the retaining means therefor in releasing position as when the door is being opened.

Fig. 5 is an underplan view oi the interior latch mechanism, a section being taken through the support immediately inside the connecting web between the opposite sides of the support.

Fig. 6 is a view somewhat similar tc Fig. 1, showing the 'same invention in a slightly different form of latch structure and with a different form of operating or releasing means therefor.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section of the handle operating means for releasing the latch, the section being taken substantially at right angles to the plane of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 8 is a like section, somewhat enlarged. showing the position of the parts upon full release of the latch, Fig. '1 showing such position when the latch is in operative door closing position, and after the door is fully opened and the handle released.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the diiierent views of the drawings.

The door I of a refrigerator, at its free vertical edge portion, overlaps the adjacent front edge of a side of the refrigerator casing 2. The latch is preferably mounted on the door and a keeper for the latch bolt at the inner side and adjacent the free forward edge of said side of the casing. Such keeper is illustrated at 3 as having a bolt receiving recess 4 and an inclined flange 5 over which the bolt rides to be retracted -until it comes to said recess l in the operation of shutting the door.

The door I, adjacent its free vertical .edge and at its inner portion has a recess at 6 in 'which the latch is mounted. The latch includes a sheet metal support substantially of U-shape having a web 1, and parallel spaced apart sides 8 extending outwardly at right angles to the web, the sides being provided with outturned flanges S through which screws or other fastenings may pass to secure the latch to the door. The sides 8 are provided with arc-shaped slots ill, as shown. toward the ends thereof farthest away from the edge of the d oor, and curving from what may be termed theirinner ends outwardly toward said farther ends of the sides 8, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

A pin I I extends transversely between the sides 0 I and; at its ends is received in the two slots I0.

The latch bolt of the latch includes two spaced apart flat bars I2 which are longitudinally slotted adjacent their inner end portions at I3, the pin II passing through said slots.v Said barsbetween their outer ends carry a latch dog or head I4 which is adapted to enter the recess l of the keeper. The dog has a substantially iiat outer face Ila (Fig. 3) to bear against an adjacent at side of the keeper recess l, and also has a curved or cam surface Mb at its inner side to ride against the incline 5 of the keeper, previously described, when the door is closed. A liat metal member I5 is mounted at one end on the pin II and extends toward the latching dog Il, and said dog has a projection I6 extending toward the member I5, a coiled compression spring I1 having is end portions located over the parts I5 and I6 (Fig. 3). 'I'he spring I1 is a compression spring which tends to project the latch dog outward and move the bars I2 connected thereto outward until stopped by the engagement of the pin II with the inner ends of the slots I3. The dog I4 lies between the web I and a roller Il mounted on a cross pin I3 between the sides Il.

When the dog is in its latchlng position (Figs. 1

and 3) the bars I2 lie substantially parallel to the web 1 and the pin II is at the end o! the slot I6 nearest said web. When the latch is in releasing position (Fig. 4) the pin Il has traversed the slot I8 tothe opposite end away from the web 1, and the bolt is disposed at an acute angle to said web 1, the dog I4 being drawn inwardly from its outer position in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4.

A U-shaped abutment holding member of sheet metal is provided comprising a cross member 26 and two parallel arms extending therefrom, the arms being pivotally mounted between their ends on a cross pin 22 which lies between the sides 8 a distance outward from the pin II when the latch bolt is in its operative latching position (Fig. 3). A coiled spring 23 around the pin 22 has one end engaged with the cross member 28 and the other connected with a side 8 of the support, the tendency o1' which is to turn the arms '2| in a clockwise direction so as to bring the notched or recessed ends 24 of said arms 2| in the path of movement oi the pin II, providing a stop to hold said pin against movement along the slots III. The notch or recess at 24 in each end of each arm 2|' is so shaped that any force applied against the side I4a of the dog I4 tending to move the latch bolt to the position shown in Fig. 4 is transmitted through the pin II in a direction or line of force passing through the axis of the pin 22. Thus the U-shaped member Y la sunlcient distance to release the pin.

In the construction and installation illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the operating means for moving this latch bolt holding member includes a handle 26 secured at theouter side of the door, having a web 26a extending to the face of the door, said web being recessed, and with a pin 21, the inner end of which bears against the cross member 26, extending therefrom through the face of the door I and-into said recess of the web 26a. Said pin adjacent its outer end is provided with an annular ilange 21a. A coiled compression spring 28 is located around the pin within said recess ot the web between the flange and the face of the door, the normal effect of which is to move the pin outwardly. A push bar 29 has its outer portion extending through a longitudinal slot in the handle 26 and engages the outer end of the pin 21. It is evident that on pushing inward on the bar 28 a short distance spring 28 will be compressed, and the arms 2i of the latch bolt holding member swung sufilciently to one side to release the pin at II, permitting the bolt, upon the door being opened, to turn from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, to the releasing position shown in Fig. 4 and thus release the door for opening.

In` Figs. 6 to 8, the latch structure is the same but the holding member serving as an abutment to hold the latch in operative position is transferred to and mounted upon the releasing handle pivot pin. The bolt comprising the latch dog I4 and the bars I2, the support comprising the web 18 and the sides 80, and the roller I8, the pin II and the slot I which the pin traverses are the same. The sides 80 of the supi port are continued outwardly at their inner ends substantially at right angles, as at 8|, joined at their outer ends by cross portion 82 from which ears 83 extend outwardly on which, as later described, the-handle is mounted. The abutment holding member comprised of the parts 2| and 22 is not used. A sheet metal stirrup 30 is conneoted with the pin I'I and has connected thereto a rod 3| which lies between the sides 8i, passes through the part 82 and also through a plate 32, forming the base of a handle housing 33 and over which said housing is releasably snapped, said base being fastened by screws or other suitable connections, as in Fig. 6, to the door I.

A pin-34 is carried by and between the sides 83 on which a sheet metal handle 35 is pivotally mounted. A second pin 36 is carried by and between the sides 83 spaced from the pin 34, the sides of the handle having slots 31 through which the pin passes, serving to limit the outward distance that the handle may be moved,'as shown in Fig. 8. A coiled spring 38 is wound around the middle portion of the, pin 34 and has one end portion 38 thereof hooked over the pin 36. The other projecting end portion of said coiled spring engages against a holding dog made of a single piece of sheet metal having two spaced apart sides 40, connected integrally by an irregularly shaped sheet metal form which includes an annular flange 4I, a rounded intermediate portion 42, and a terminal abutment lip 43, against which the upper end of the rod 3| engages when the door is closed. 'Ihis holding or abutment member, inuenced by the spring 38, is normally swung in a clockwise direction to the position shown in Fig. 7, bringing the ilange 4I against is opened, will engage against such abutment member and swing it still further or to the position shown in Fig. 8, if such position needs to be reached to permit the nose of the latching dog I4 to pass by the keeper. In moving to the position shown in Fig. 8, the spring 38 has its tension increased. The handle is normally acted upon by coiled springs 45 wound around the pin 34 at the outside of each side 40 of the abutment member, having one end 45a of each of said springs engaging with the handle at the shoulder 44 and the other engaging against the base 32 (Fig. 8). After the door is opened the tendency of the springs 45 and 39 is to return the handle and the holding abutment to the initial positions shown in Fig. 7, and thus swing the latch bolt back from the position -which it has taken, as in Fig. 4 when the door is being opened to the position in Fig. 3, whereupon the bolt is again held against its tilting and retracting movement.

The latch bolt being in the position shown in Fig. 3 or in a position like that shown in Fig- 6 (with the other form of latch) when the door is open, on closing the door spring I1 is compressed and the cam side I4b of the bolt head I4 rides over the incline 5 of the keeper until the recess 4 of the keeper is reached, whereupon spring I1 projects the bolt head into said recess. 'I'he doors are equipped with compressible gaskets 46 for the'exclusion of warm air from the outside or the escape of cold air .from the inside of the refrigerator. `These gaskets are compressed upon the door being fully closed and power is stored in them, causing them to tend to move the door partly opened as soon as the pin Il is released. With either form of latch, as soon as the pin Il is free to traverse the slots Il, the pressure exerted by the gaskets at 46 will cause the door to swingV outwardly. and as the door moves outwardly the bolt ls turned more and more from the position shown in Fig. 3 eventually to the position in Fig. 4, in which position the head I4 disengages entirely from the keeper and the door may be fully opened. And then as previously outlined,v on release of the latch operating means," either the push bar 29 or the handle 35, depending on which form of releasing means is used, the latchbolt returns toits original position and is held in such position.

'I'he structure described is strong and durable and fully capable of withstanding the service to which it is subjected in use. The door when latched is securely latched. Its release is exceptionally easy, there being required only a re1- atively small movement of the l. manually operaated releasing member, the push bar 29 or the handle 35. For as soon as the pin ii is released to move in slots i0, its movement along said slots with the accompanyingtilting and retracting of the latch bolt is not caused by any further manual operation of ,either the push bar 29 or the handle 35, but is caused by the engagement of the bolt Il with the keeper from which comes the following swinging and retraction of the latch bolt, as the door is moved to open position suiiicient for the latch bolt to escape from the keeper.

The latch is of a simple'and economical structure and may be produced at low cost. 'Ihe invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming Within theirscope.

I claim: l

1. In a latch structure, a support having spaced apart sides and a cross member connecting the sides at one edge thereof, the sides of said support having slots therein, a pin extending between the sides of the support having its ends received in said slots, a latch bolt connected with said pin and adapted to occupy a latching position substantially parallel with the cross member between the sides of the support, in which position one end of the bolt projects beyond the adjacent end of the support, said latch bolt being retractible on movement of the pin along said slots and tiltable when retracted to an acute angle with respect to said cross member of the support, releasable means for holding thejpin at one end of said slots in which the latch bolt is in said iirst mentioned position and at one end projects beyond the support, and means for holding the projecting end portion of said latch bolt against movement away from said cross member of the support.

2. A latch structure comprising, a support of metal of channel form having spaced apart parallel sides and a web connecting said sides. said sides of the support having each an arc-shaped slot therein extending and curving away from said web, a pin extending between said sides of the support having its ends received in said slots, a latch bolt comprising a member connected with the pin, two spaced apart parallel bars having slotted end portions, the pin passing through said slots, a bolt head secured between the head thereof extending beyond the adjacent end of the support, retaining means moimted on and extending between the sides of the support at the side-of the head opposite that adjacent said web, and releasable holding means forsaid pin adapted to releasably hold the pin in a position wherein the bolt substantially parallels said web.

3. A latch structure comprising, a channelv shaped support having spaced apart parallel sides connected by a web, a pin extending between the sides of the support, an arc-shaped guide on each side of the support to be traversed by theends of the pin, a latch bolt connected with said pin and adapted to project at one end beyond the support and when thus projected lle substantially parallel to said web, and releasable holding means for holding the pin in the position in which said .atch bolt projects at one end beyond the support, said holding means when released permitting the pin to traverse i said guides and simultaneously retract and tilt said bolt. Y

4. A latch structure comprising, a support of metal of channel form having spaced apart parallel sides and a connecting web, a pin extending between the sides of the support, arc-shaped guides, one on each side of the support extending and curving away from said web, a pin 1ocated between the sides of the support having its ends associated with said guides whereby t-he pin may traverse the guides in moving toward or away from said web, a longitudinally extensible and rectractible latch bolt connected to said pin adapted to lie substantially parallel to said web with one end of the bolt projecting beyond the support in one position, and be retracted and tilted on movement of the pin along said arcshaped guides, and a pivotally mounted member located and pivotally mounted between the sides of the support having its free end adapted to engage said pin and hold it against movement and maintain said latch bolt in substantially parallel position to said web, said pivotally mounted member being adapted to be turned about its pivot to release said pin.

5. A latch structure comprising, a channel shaped support having spaced apart sides and a connecting web, an arc-shaped guide on each side of the support extending and curving away from said web, a pin between the sides of the support having its ends carried by said guides, a longitudinally expansible and contractible latch bolt connected at one end to said pin, a member pivotally mounted on and between the sides of the support, the pivotal axis thereof being a distance from said web, the free end of said member being adapted to interpose in the path of movement of said pin to hold it against traversing said arc-shaped guides, and yielding spring means for normally holding said member in operative position to stop said movement of the pin.

6. A latch structure comprising, a channel shaped support, arc-shaped guides, one on each side of the support, a pin extending between the sides of the support having its ends associated with said guides to traverse the same, a longitudinally extensible and retractible latch bolt connected to the pin and adapted in latching position to lie substantially parallel to and against the web of said support, a U-shaped abutment having spaced sides and a cross member connecting said-sides at one endl located between the sides of the support,` a pivot pin mounted on said support passing through the sides of said holding abutment between the ends thereof the free ends -of said sides of the holding abutment being adapted to engage against said rst mentioned pin and hold the latch bolt against retraction, and manually operable means to engage the cross member of said holding abutment to turn the same about its pivotal mounting and free said pin to traverse said guides.

7. A construction containing the elements inl combination defined in claim 6, and retaining means mounted transversely between the sides of the support adjacent one end thereof, said latch bolt passing between said means and the i web of said channel support'.

8. A latch comprising a support, a latch bolt movably mounted on said support for inward and simultaneous tilting movement and vice versa, said `latch bolt having a keeper engaging head housed within the support and adapted to pro-f ject beyond one end of the support, saidhead upon the occurrence of said tilting and retracting movement moving inwardly with respect to the support and tilting away from said keeper with which it is engaged, and means for releasably said channel support. a pin having its ends received in said guides, a longitudinally extensible' and'retractible latch bolt connected at one end to'said pin and at its opposite end having a head adapted in one position to project beyond the support, the bolt in said position lying substantialLY parallel to the web of the support, an operating handle mounted on the door and means connectedwith said pin combined with movable means adapted to be operated by said handle for holding the pin and the connected latch bolt I against movement but releasing said pin for 'tractible latch bolt connected at one end to said pin, said bolt having a keeper engaging 'head at its opposite end adapted to project beyond the support in which position the bolt substantially parallels said web and said pin is at one end oi said Yguides therefor, a rod attached to said pin extending outwardly to and beyond the outer side i of the door, a handle pivotally mounted on said door., a pivotally mounted holding abutment enholding the inner end of the latch bolt against movement;

9. In combination, a door, a latch mounted thereoncomprising a channel shaped support.

gaging with the outer end of said rod and adapt- .ed to hold said bolt in said parallel position to the web, and interengaging means on said handle and holding abutment for releasing said abutment from said rod on manual operation'of the arc-shaped guides on the sides oi! the support 35 handle.

extending and curving away `from the web of LLOYD L. ANDERSON. 

